Former President Barack Obama just couldn’t bring himself to throw his weight behind New York City’s mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, even with the election looming.
The New York Post reported that on Saturday, Obama spoke with Mamdani by phone but stopped short of an endorsement, a curious move given his history of backing other mayoral candidates like Bill de Blasio in 2013, while the race tightens against challenger Andrew Cuomo.
While in Newark, New Jersey, for a rally supporting gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill, Obama didn’t make the short trip to New York City to campaign for Mamdani. His absence on the campaign trail has tongues wagging among political insiders on both sides of the aisle.
Back in 2013, Obama didn’t hesitate to endorse de Blasio, even when the then-candidate was a punching bag for critics. Yet, with Mamdani, a self-identified Democratic Socialist, Obama’s silence is deafening, especially as Mamdani’s lead over Cuomo narrows to a slim 6.6 points.
Mamdani’s campaign adviser Patrick Gaspard tried to spin the snub as no big deal, claiming Obama has a “longstanding rule” against endorsing in local races.
But that excuse doesn’t hold water when you consider Obama’s endorsements for mayors in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and even Stamford, Connecticut.
“President Obama doesn’t endorse in local races. That’s a longstanding rule post-presidency,” Gaspard insisted. Nice try, but history shows Obama picks and chooses his moments, and this wasn’t Mamdani’s.
Mamdani, at just 34 years old, is pushing a platform that includes eyebrow-raising ideas like “Defund the Police,” city-run grocery stores, free buses, and tax hikes.
Critics warn that policies like free transit could turn buses into havens for drug users, a concern that resonates with many New Yorkers tired of urban decay.
Republican strategist Rob Ryan didn’t mince words about Obama’s hesitation. “Even Barack Obama realizes Mamdani is bad for New York and the Democratic Party,” Ryan argued. It’s a sharp jab, suggesting Obama fears tying Democrats to a candidate seen as too far left for mainstream America.
Meanwhile, moderate Democrat Rep. Tom Suozzi has thrown his support behind Cuomo, running as an independent after Mamdani’s primary win. Suozzi cited Mamdani’s socialist label and thin resume as reasons to back the more experienced candidate.
The Democratic Party seems split down the middle on Mamdani. While progressive heavyweights like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders have hit the campaign trail with him, mainstream figures like Obama, Sen. Chuck Schumer, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand are keeping their distance.
Even Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries waited until just before early voting to endorse Mamdani on October 24, 2025. That late nod hardly screams confidence in a candidate whose lead over Cuomo, per an AtlasIntel poll, sits at 40.6% to 34%, with Republican Curtis Sliwa trailing at 24.1%.
Political consultant Hank Sheinkopf offered a pragmatic take on Obama’s caution. An endorsement of Mamdani could become a liability for Democrats in tight national races next year, especially if his progressive agenda flops in the Big Apple.
With just 72 hours until Election Day, Mamdani’s lead is the slimmest it’s been since July 2025. Though the RealClearPolitics average still shows him ahead by a healthier 14.5%, the tightening numbers suggest Cuomo could make this a real nail-biter.
For conservatives watching this race, Mamdani’s platform feels like a cautionary tale of progressive overreach in a city already struggling with crime and economic challenges. Yet, credit where it’s due—his tenacity at 34 shows grit, even if his policies seem detached from the average New Yorker’s reality.
